How to become a breast cancer specialist in 2018: The point of view of the second cohort of the Certificate of Competence in Breast Cancer (CCB2)

Abstract

We declare that all persons involved in this research project did not have any potential conflict or financial support. How to become a breast cancer specialist in 2018: the point of view of the second cohort of the Certificate of Competence in Breast Cancer (CCB2)

Eight-Year Experience of the Certificate of Competence and Advanced Studies Program Organized by the European School of Oncology

“…It is getting more popular and improves the participants’ clinical competencies through shifting the education orientation from teacher-centered to student-centered [ 13 – 15 ]. In 2018, University of Ulm published the first findings on the second cohort of ESO CCASP in breast cancer [ 16 ]. Most of the participants were medical or radiation oncologists and originated from low-middle, upper-middle-, and high-income countries.…”

Is multidisciplinary learning valuable to build a breast cancer specialist career? The perspective of the first 2 cohorts of the ESO-ULM Certificate of Competence in Breast Cancer (CCB)

“…Unlike in the USA, where specialist BC training is offered through national fellowship programs, that deliver multidisciplinary knowledge with rotations in different fields of BC management, in Europe there is still great variability and lack of standardization across countries. Despite the wide consensus on the need to develop quality standards, specialist training is still a matter of individual initiative and [4,5], heterogeneous training systems across countries. The gap between the optimal recommended BC care/ training and actual practice is even bigger in low-middle-income countries where resource limitations greatly affect the provision of quality-controlled services [6].…”

“…As part of the program CV, CCB attendees are warmly encouraged to endeavor in a peer reviewed publication, focused on the topic of professional training. In 2018, the participants to the second edition of the CCB published a manuscript on specific needs of BC trainees in Europe [5].…”

“…The CCB provides BC specialists with multidisciplinary education and delivers an academic postgraduate title [5,11].…”

Implementation of the BRESO Theoretical and practical knowledge curriculum for European Breast Surgeons: The time has come

“…In the United States, the Society of Surgical Oncology offers a growing number of educational programs, accessible through a national match, after finishing residency in general surgery [1]. In Europe, however, due to heterogenous training systems across countries, a standardized training is lacking [2] and fellowship programs in breast surgical oncology are limited to specific countries such as the United Kingdom.…”